External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday hailed the victory of Maoists in Nepal, calling it a 'positive development'.

"The Maoists have successfully taken part in the democratic process in Nepal," Mukherjee said.

Recalling an article in an United States newspaper that warned Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru when the Communist Party of India-Marxist came to power in Kerala [Images], Mukherjee said, "Nehru had said they will fit into the country's political mainstream as they had participated in the political process".

He said India had told the Maoists in Nepal that they would benefit if they emerge from the shadow of the gun and violence.

According to Mukherjee, India would be better off with democratically elected governments in place in the neighbouring countries.